McDaniel made those comments Tuesday in response to a question during a news conference where the 11-member Conservative Coalition was announced.

The goal of the proposed Medicaid expansion that is opposed by most of the state’s Republican leadership is to provide health care to about 300,000 Mississippians, who have been identified as primarily the working poor.

McDaniel argued that Medicaid is not a workable program to provide the benefits. Legislative Democrats have proposed using Medicaid funds to allow the working poor to purchase private health insurance.

McDaniel and most other members of the new Senate Conservative Coalition are not considered part of Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves inner circle. Whether the Conservative Coalition offers viable proposals for the current Medicaid debate remains to be seen.